NANOBIOPHARMACEUTICS
The controversy to any new innovation always concerns both the benefits/costs. Do the benefits outweigh the costs? Can the risks/disadvantages of the innovation possibly be lessened/eliminated? It is crucial to reveal both the benefits and the costs to the public, so the public is informed and knowledgeable to make an assertive decision. The risks/disadvantages need to be weighed with the benefits in order to sanction the global use of nanobiopharmaceutics.
Possibly ineffective?
Although nanomedicine has the ability to target a specific area, the immune system often takes up most of the nanoparticles. In this way, few nanoparticles reach the desired area and the nanobiopharmaceutics are ineffective. Most of the inflammatory nanomedicine are the imaging contrast agents, which contain iron. However, scientists are working on developing far more effective nanobiopharmaceutics.
Inflammation?
The biggest costs of any new medicine are the supposed side effects. When the immune system takes up the alien nanoparticles, this causes inflammation. A certain amount of inflammation can be helpful to take out the foreign particles, but too much inflammation can be extremely harmful to the patient, sometimes even increasing the symptoms of the disease.
Ethnic/Social/Legal Issues
Nanosize?
The aspect that makes nanotechnology helpful to medicine could also be harmful to organisms, specially humans. The microscopic size of the nanoparticles, consisting of chemical and physical composition, could have a negative effect when placed into the body. Nanoparticles' efficacy also depends strongly on the specific environment. The environment, inside the human body rather than a tested culture, could cause the nanoparticles to react in different ways, such as transforming size or shape.
Artificial v. Natural?
One of the main concerns of nanobiopharmaceutics is the difference between artificial and natural nanoparticles. Although we have grown tolerant towards naturally-occuring nanoparticles (smoke), the artificial nanoscale materials (C60 carbon shells) may pose a threat for humans. The differentiation between the natural and artificial materials may be a problem, as we may have a negative reaction to manufactured nanobiopharmaceutics.
Economic Issues?
When a certain nanomedicine first enters the market, the prices will be high, as a monopoly will probably hold control over the medicine. However, the price will gradually go down, but not until other competitors enter the market. This results in unequal medicine distribution. The nanomedicine will go straight to the rich, while the poor/middle class will not be able to obtain the medicine for an eon.
Enhancement?
Another problem arises on the matter of using nanomedicine to enhance certain features. Nanobiopharmaceutics could be used to change certain physical features, or alter intelligence level. Thereby, the problem becomes a matter of both moral and economic issues. Only the rich could afford the new "enhancement" features. The possible idea of enhancement brings together various controversies.